1. Author’s Background.

a) Known by the name of Antonio Lombardo or Francisco Antonio Pigafetta

b) Pigafetta was born in a wealthy Vicenza family in 1491 and died in the same
city in 1534
c) In his youth he studied astronomy, geography, and cartography.
d) He was also an Italian seafarer and geographer
e) He joined the expedition to the Spice Islands led by explorer Ferdinand
Magellan under the flag of King Charles I of Spain and, after Magellan's
death in the Philippines, the subsequent voyage around the world.
2. Historical background of the document
a) On 10 August 1519, five ships departed from Seville for what was to become
the first circumnavigation of the globe. Linked by fame to the name of its
captain, Magellan, much of the expedition is known through the travelogue
of one of the few crew members who returned to Spain, Antonio Pigafetta. A
narrative and cartographic record of the journey (including 23 hand-drawn
watercolour charts) from Patagonia to Indonesia, from the Philippines to the
Cape of Good Hope, Pigafetta's The First Voyage around the World is a
classic of discovery and exploration literature
3. Content Analysis: Understanding the historical information
A. Identify and describe the customs and traditions mentioned in the document that
have:
1. Socio-cultural significance - The descriptions of the natives reflect the early lives of
the Visayan ancestors.
2. Political significance - The journal shows that even before the pre-colonial
Philippines had its own political system.
3. Economic significance - They had the barter system wherein they exchange their
good for something that they want or need.
B. Identify and describe the mentioned:
a. Dates - March 16, 1521 – arrival at the island of SamarMarch 18 – encounter with
the townsfolkMarch 22 – receiving gifts from the townsfolk March 25 –
approaching the four smallislands namely; Cenalo, Hiunanghan, Ibusson, and
AbrienMarch 28 – anchored in the island of Zamatra (Sumatra)March 29 –
conversation between the captain general and the King of ZamatraMarch 31 – the
first mass took placeApril 7 – entered the port of Zubu
b. Places - Islands of Ladroni – Islands of thievesIsland of Zamal (Samar) – an
uninhabited island where they took shelter Island of Humunu (Homonhon) – a place
where they found two springs of the clearest waterButuan and Calagan – the first
mass siteCeylon, Zubu Calaghann – best ports to get foodMazaua – where they
remained for seven daysCeylon, Bohol, Canighan, Baybai and Gatighan – the five
islands they passed throughGatighan – bats were as large as eaglesPolo, Ticobon,
and Pozon – islands where they awaited for the king of Mazaua
c. Personalities - Captain-General – Ferdinand MagellanRaia Colambu & Raia Siaui
– kings that took part in the mass
4. Contextual Analysis:What are the factors that could have influenced Antonio
Pigafetta in the writing of the document? Explain.He wanted to explore and learn
about the world in which he heard about Magellan’s expedition where he asked and
obtained the permission to join the voyage. The document was his journal which
became basis for his travelogue.
4. What are the relevance / contribution of the document in Philippine history?The
document is one of the early proofs of life in the Visayas region. Pigafetta’s
description on how the natives were dressed and about their appearances shows the
early lives of the Visayan ancestors and how they lived in the islandsin peace.
5. What are the author’s main arguments?Magellan and his crew were the people who
converted some of the natives to Christianity. They were also responsible for the first
mass in the Philippine Islands.
6. Your own overall observation andinsights on the primary sourceHis travelogue is
one of the most importantprimary sources in the study of pre-colonial Philippines.

Background of the Author

Born between 1480 and 1491. Vicenza, Republic of Venice (in modern Italy)
Pigafetta'sexact year of birth is not known, with estimates ranging between 1480 and
1491. A birth year of1491 would have made him around 30 years old during
Magellan's expedition, which historianshave considered more probable than an age
close to 40. Pigafetta belonged to a rich family cityof Vicenza in northeast Italy.In his
youth he studied astronomy, geography and cartography. He then served on boardthe
ships of the Knights of Rhodes at the beginning of the 16th century. Until 1519,
heaccompanied the papal nuncio, Monsignor Francesco Chieregati, to Spain.Was a
Venetian scholar and explorer. He joined the expedition to the Spice Islands led
byexplorer Ferdinand Magellan under the flag of King Charles I of Spain and, after
Magellan'sdeath in the Philippines, the subsequent voyage around the world. During
the expedition, heserved as Magellan's assistant and kept an accurate journal which
later assisted him in translatingthe Cebuano language. It is the first recorded
document concerning the language.
Historical Background of the Text The Magellan Route is the way traced by the
nautical expedition made by the first world circumnavegation in the dawning of the
16th century. This path was organized and led by one of the most extraordinary
explorer and sailor ever, Ferdinand Magellan, who for the first time placed in the
maps not only a new and immense ocean (Pacific), which has then been fully
navigated for the first time, but also the Strait that connected the two big oceans in the
planet, the Atantic Ocean and the Pacific Ocean.This route was used during four
centuries to connect the East and the West through the sea, since it was the only
possible route used by ships until the construction of the Panama Canalin the 20th
century. The valuable contribution of this universal route to the human history can be
seen not only in the voyage itself, but also in the historical background of the voyage
and in the consequences it had in the development of several civilizations.Such an
extraordinary journey cannot be understood without having in mind a historical
moment shared by Portugal and Spain. Both were acutely dedicated to research and
achieved knowledge about nautical technology, cartography and astronomy, as well as
other fields related to the exploration of the oceans. Since the beginning of the 16th
century, the navigation route designed by Magellan and his sailors during the First
Circumnavigation around the World has geographical and symbolically linked
different cultures and civilizations, providing exchanges and achievements in
commerce, scientific knowledge and cultural, artistic and religious practices. It may
be said that the first globalization of our world started in that moment

We found out that our ancestors fought and delayed the Spanish occupation
foryears. Profetta presented the events in a chronological order that gives readers a
vividimage of what it was like to be a part of the first voyage around the world